Redknapp is a good manager until he starts believing in his tactical ability. He has set Spurs up to take account of the opposition strengths. In doing so Spurs have lost their own strengths. Until we stop worrying about the opposition and what they will do and start just playing to our strengths we are looking for trouble.
I don't think our system relies on Lennon at all, I can give you plenty of games this season we've won without Lennon. In many ways the most pleasing performance of the season was at Norwich, won without Lennon. We beat Arsenal and Liverpool, our two biggest scalps this season, without Lennon. I'm not anti-Aaron, I just don't think he is essential to us winning. I think a fit VDV is probably more crucial. We can then play 4-4-1-1, or a formation I like 4-2-3-1 without threatening our goal scoring too much. As long as we have Bale Ade and VDV on the pitch, that's our top three Prem goal scorers/assists providers, I believe. We can also play 4-3-1-2 with VDV and no Lennon to accommodate two strikers. All sorts of possibilities are available. I'm not a fan of 4-4-2 with two wingers (Bale and Lennon, if that's where they play) as it leaves us short in the mid. It can work of course. No one formation is perfection, and I'm far from sure of our 'best XI'.
The thing with all the formations Ghoddle listed is we tend to play them with players in their correct positions. Our system is based on Modric dictating from the centre of midfield, so why do we stick him out on the wing? It limits his field of passing (in central midfield he has a 360 degree range, on the wing it's limited to 180 degrees), and he doesn't have Parker or Sandro screening him when he's on the wing either. By making him less effective, the team is also rendered less effective - and with less attacking momentum, that means the opponents can get back at us. It makes no sense that we don't use Danny Rose as a like-for-like replacement for Lennon or Bale, as he's got the pace and workrate to be an effective understudy when he gets his chance - indeed, he was our best player in our systemically inept trip to Stevenage - but while it can be justified to put Kranjcar in Lennon's position as he is a right-sided attacker, there is no logical reason to put Modric on the left. Frankly, if the solution to Bale being out is to stick one of our Croats on the left wing, I'd rather we recalled Corluka from Leverkusen to play out there so Modric could remain in central midfield.
Presumably this would have no Bale either? Our best formation is 4-2-3-1 with Modric and Parker sitting deep and Modders setting up the attacks. Bale, VDV and Lennon behind Ade or Saha picking up the ball from Modric to blast into the box or slipping the ball to Ade or Rafa for the finishing touch. We are not far off the best team in the country set up like that.
